GreenlyWhat to plant in August in Florida
Worked out for 9 cities from their own weather and frost dates, by zone.
What to sow and plant in August in Florida, by zone: frost-free, highs above 82 °F (Miami, Jacksonville and 7 more): zucchini, green beans, cucumber, melon, watermelon and 16 more.
In Florida, August is summer.
Frost-free, highs above 82 °F: Miami, Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando and 5 more
In August, on average, these cities have highs of 87 to 90 °F and lows of 74 to 78 °F, 6.6 to 10.9 in of rain on 21 to 27 days; the day lasts 13 h 04 min to 13 h 16 min (on the 15th).
No frost in August in 10 years of data: frost-tender crops can go in too, if it is warm enough for them.
| How | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| plant sets | Onion | Miami |
| sow direct | Radish, carrot, mustard greens | Miami |
| set out transplants or start indoors, plant out in October | Tomato, bell pepper, eggplant, chili pepper | Miami, Fort Myers and St. Petersburg |
| sow direct | Zucchini, green beans, watermelon, sweet corn, basil, bok choy, borage, chayote, corn, Florence fennel, kiwano, luffa, moringa, okra, peanut, soybean | all |
| start indoors, plant out in September | Cucumber | Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando and 5 more |
| set out transplants or start indoors, plant out in September | Melon | all |
| sow direct | Pumpkin, Napa cabbage | Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando and 5 more |
| start indoors, plant out in September | Achocha | all |
| start indoors, plant out in November | Celeriac, celery | Miami and Fort Myers |
Compared with July: new — onion, radish, carrot and mustard greens.
Not starting in August: lettuce (November, started indoors), peas (November, sown direct) and spinach (no month outdoors by these rules) — dates for Tampa.
Ready to harvest in August in Tampa, if sown in the right month: zucchini (June), green beans (June), watermelon (May), pumpkin (April), sweet corn (May), basil (June), bok choy (June) and borage (June).
How we work it out
For each city we use its average weather in August and the months after (highs, lows and rain for 2016–2025, ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo) and its average frost dates. A crop starts in August if the month's mean temperature reaches the minimum soil temperature for germination on its card (we use the mean air temperature as a stand-in for the soil's) and if, over its first months (up to three), the average highs stay within its group's range, with no frost for crops that cannot take it. Crops started indoors count from the month they are planted out.
Temperature groups from Colorado State University Extension: cool-season crops prefer 60–80 °F and lose quality in heat; hardy ones grow in days as cool as 40 °F, semi-hardy ones from 40–50 °F (we use 50 °F); warm-season crops need days above 55 °F, and the most tender (tomato, pepper, eggplant, melon, watermelon, squash) above 60 °F, up to 95 °F. Crops the guide does not name go into the stricter group by their frost hardiness. Fava (broad) beans, which the guide does not name, count as hardy: hardy varieties are sown in fall and overwinter (RHS). Garlic and bulbs: a month before the first frost, and later only while the ground is not frozen (as on each city's page).
Miami follows the UF/IFAS planting months for South Florida crop by crop (fall is the main season there); the other Florida cities follow the general rule.
This is a general rule from averages: your garden can be a week or two earlier or later, and a greenhouse or a cold frame brings the season forward. Greenly works out the dates for your location.
- Moon planting calendar for August 2027
- What to plant in August: all climates
- Gardening in the United States: guide by region
